Yap - IkeaHackers.net: 25 biggest and best projects: DIY hacks for multi-functional furniture, clever storage upgrades, space-saving solutions and more

Collection and editorial copyright 2017 Jules Yap. Design and concept copyright 2017 Ulysses Press and its licensors. Project text and artwork are reprinted with permission of the projects contributor(s). All rights reserved. Any unauthorized duplication in whole or in part or dissemination of this edition by any means (including but not limited to photocopying, electronic devices, digital versions, and the Internet) will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Published in the United States by:

Ulysses Press

P.O. Box 3440

Berkeley, CA 94703

www.ulyssespress.com

ISBN: 978-1-61243-696-8

Acquisitions editor: Casie Vogel

Managing editor: Claire Chun

Editor: Shayna Keyles

Proofreader: Lauren Harrison

Design and layout: what!design @ whatweb.com

Distributed by Publishers Group West

IKEA is a registered trademark of Inter IKEA Systems B.V. and is used here for informational purposes only. This book is independently authored and published and is not sponsored or endorsed by, or affiliated in any way with, the manufacturer of IKEA or any other trademarked brands or products mentioned and/or pictured. All trademarks that appear in this book belong to their respective owners and are used here for informational purposes only. The author and publisher encourage readers to patronize the quality brands and products mentioned in this book.

Contents

Table of Contents

It was June 2006. I was browsing a home decor website looking for ideas to furnish my new apartment. It was then I saw my first IKEA hack. Up until that moment, Id always thought of furniture as staticI buy a bed, I get a bed. The article I stumbled across featured a guy whod bought 2 IKEA PAX wardrobe sliding doors and made them into a room divider. I didnt know you could do that! I began searching for more hacks, and each find made me more excited than the last. People were doing strange things to IKEA products, and I loved it!

After a few days, I had collected a handful of hacks from various parts of the World Wide Web. How wonderful if they could all be housed on one site, for all IKEA fans to enjoy, I thought to myself. I wasnt sure if anyone else was as crazy about weird IKEA mods as I was, but with what little blogging skills I had, I started IkeaHackers.net anyway. I updated it as regularly as I could find hacks and didnt think too much about it. As it turned out, a whole lot of people were into hacking, and they started sharing their creations with me. From there, IkeaHackers grew and grew.

Now, you may ask, Whats an IKEA hack? In its simplest terms, its a modification of an IKEA product. In no way does the term hack infer that the mods are sloppily done. Rather, the name suggests that the hackers break into the IKEA code of furniture assembly and repurpose, challenge, and create with new results.

People hack IKEA for many reasons: some to get exactly what they want, some for economic reasons, some for style. Reasons abound. But whatever the reason is, you can be sure its fun to slice and dice mass-produced flat-pack furniture into something totally different.

This book is to help you do just that.

Weve put together some of the biggest and best IKEA hacks from all over the world. Our hope is that theyll expand your imagination and trigger you to see whats possible with RAST, FROSTA, BILLY and friends. Our sneaky intention is youll to walk into IKEA and never see their furniture the same way again. Because it does not have to be.

The book has projects suitable for every level of skill. Some of the projects are easy, while some are tougher to do. Some need nothing more than a drill, while others may require an assortment of tools. Browse through the book and start with projects closer to your ability, then level up as your DIY confidence grows.

As with all DIY projects, safety comes first. In the projects, you may come across steps and tools that youre unsure of. In such instances, please seek help from an expert DIYer. All electrical work should be handled by a professional to ensure compliance to safety regulations. Do check IKEAs instructions on the safe use of their products. Please take the precaution to securely anchor all cabinets to the wall. Always make sure that the hacked item is safe for you and those who will use it. Please remind yourself to always err on the side of safety.

Finally, I hope this book inspires you to create IKEA hacks of your own. Theres always something new in IKEA waiting to be hacked. You could be the one to do so. And Ill be here to share your IKEA hack with the world.

Happy hacking,

Jules

www.IkeaHackers.net

www.facebook.com/ikeahackers

NOTE: IKEA product measurements are given in width depth height. US lumber measurements are given in height width length.

Tony Tapia and Scott Vedder

Apopka, Florida

This hack combines BEST and BILLY frames in the same project. This is a unique challenge because the heights and depths of both collections are different. Matching them up requires cutting the BILLY frames to the right height and then boosting the BESTs to match. No worries, though! This project can be completed by anyone with a sense of adventure, a little know-how around a few power tools, and plenty of time and patience. At the end, Tony and Scott wound up with a custom piece that looks professionally built but cost less than $1,400.

When this hack was assembled, VASSBO doors were offered. If available, use 14 assorted BEST VASSBO doors. However, VASSBO is unavailable in most markets, but SINDVIK is the most similar style of door currently found at IKEA locations.

IKEA Home Furnishings

2 BEST frames, 231575 inches (6040192 cm)

3 double BEST frames, 231525 inches (604064 cm)

3 single BEST cabinets, 231515 inches (604038 cm)

2 BILLY bookcases, 151179 inches (4028202 cm)

16 assorted SINDVIK doors and drawer fronts, to fit

OXBERG panel doors to fit BEST frames, 1575 inches (40192 cm)

BEST rails